Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs continue preparing for a pivotal road test against the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs dropped to 5-4 after a Week 9 loss to the Buffalo Bills and spent last week on a scheduled bye.
While the Chiefs enjoyed some time off, sports gambling scandals continued to make headlines. The hotly debated topic was raised Wednesday when Mahomes met with reporters.
Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion, shared his approach to any activity that’s remotely related to gambling.
Patrick Mahomes joins ESPN’s “College GameDay” before a Big 12 Conference football game Nov. 8, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium. (Nathan Giese/Avalanche-Journal/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“I mean, they let us know. I mean, the NFL and NFLPA kind of tell us all the different rules that you can and can’t do. I just stay away, stay away from it, just because I don’t want to put myself in that position,” Mahomes said. “I mean, that’s something that, your life is so great, why mess with it?
“And, so, it does get, I think, more than anything, to me, it gets weird sometimes when you have fans talking about it. Just because, like, you’re just trying to go out there and live your life and play the game, and sometimes they get really attached even more than like the regular fan, because they have money on the line.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass to running back Jerick McKinnon (1) during the first half of the AFC championship against the Cincinnati Bengals Jan. 30, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
“And, so, from me to them, I would just say, ‘Don’t do anything that you can’t recuperate or live without.’ And, so, it’s a crazy world we live in these days, seeing all this stuff happen. But I think you just focus on the football and focus on the sport that you love and why you’re here, and you don’t have to worry about other stuff.”
Mahomes has not been accused of or in any way been associated with improper sports gambling.
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and former NBA guard and coach Damon Jones were among those arrested by the FBI as part of an illegal gambling and sports betting investigation last month. Rozier was subsequently placed on leave by the league.
Authorities said the probe had ties to members of the La Cosa Nostra crime family.
Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on before the Super Bowl against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
In July, Gilbert Arenas was arrested as part of an alleged illegal gambling ring. The Department of Justice accused the former basketball star of operating the scheme from a home he owned in Southern California. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was later released on $50,000 bond.
In a late October memo, the NBA told its 30 teams it had launched a review of how the league could protect the integrity of the game.
In baseball, Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted on several charges alleging they rigged bets on MLB games they played in.
